Welcome! My name is Laura, and my counselling & psychotherapy office is a safe space where you will be met with non-judgement and support.
I am here to listen, as well as to collaborate with you as both a professional and a fellow human being.
06/15/2025
Father’s Day can bring up so many emotions - joy, gratitude, grief, longing, anger, even numbness. Whatever you’re feeling today, it’s valid.
Maybe you’re celebrating a dad who’s been a steady, loving presence.
Maybe you’re grieving a loss, recent or long ago.
Maybe your relationship with your father is complicated, painful, or nonexistent.
Maybe you’re carrying both love and hurt.
To those missing a dad, to those healing from one, to those who never had the kind of father they needed, I see you.
And to the fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, mentors, and chosen father-figures who show up with care and kindness - thank you. You matter more than you know.
If this day is difficult, here are some gentle ways to care for yourself:
Limit social media if it feels overwhelming
Reach out to a friend or therapist to talk things through
Write a letter you don’t have to send
Spend time in nature or in a comforting space
Light a candle in honour of your experience or someone you miss
Let yourself feel without judgment
You don’t have to celebrate today. You don’t have to push feelings aside. You just have to be kind to yourself, moment by moment.
You are not alone. ❤️🩹
06/08/2025
🌧 The RAIN Technique for Mindfulness & Self-Compassion 🌧
When you’re overwhelmed by anxiety, shame, or difficult emotions, the RAIN exercise can help you slow down and reconnect with yourself in a healing way.
🧠 What is RAIN?
RAIN is a mindfulness tool developed by meditation teacher Tara Brach. It’s especially helpful for those struggling with anxiety, trauma, OCD, or harsh self-judgment.
✨ Here’s how it works:
R – Recognize what’s going on.
Pause and name what you’re feeling: “This is anxiety,” “This is fear,” or “I’m feeling unworthy.”
A – Allow it to be there.
Instead of fighting the feeling, gently say, “This belongs,” or “It’s okay to feel this.” You don’t have to like it, you’re just allowing it to be present.
I – Investigate with kindness.
Explore the feeling with gentle curiosity. What does it feel like in your body? What might this emotion be trying to tell you?
N – Nurture with self-compassion.
Offer yourself kindness in the moment. Place a hand on your heart, speak to yourself like you would a dear friend: “I’m here for you,” or “You’re doing the best you can.”
🌱 Why it works:
RAIN interrupts our automatic reactions by bringing mindful awareness and compassion to our experience. Neuroscience shows that naming emotions, sitting with them, and responding kindly can reduce the brain’s threat response and help us feel safer, more grounded, and more connected.
💛 Be patient with yourself. It’s not about perfection, it’s about presence.
06/05/2025
Feeling overwhelmed? Feel a panic attack coming on? Trying to space out your compulsions?
Here is one of my favourite grounding techniques. 🩷
This simple exercise brings your mind back to the present by engaging your senses:
👀 5 things you can see
🤚 4 things you can touch
👂 3 things you can hear
👃 2 things you can smell
👅 1 thing you can taste
I love this exercise because it can be done anywhere.
🧠 Why the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Exercise Works:
When you experience anxiety or panic, your brain enters a state of fight-or-flight, activating the amygdala, heightening your senses, and pulling focus toward perceived threats (even if there isn’t a real danger).
The 5-4-3-2-1 exercise interrupts this cycle by:
1. Engaging the Present Moment (Mindfulness)
It shifts your brain’s attention away from anxious thoughts and into your current physical environment. This brings awareness out of your internal fears and into external facts.
2. Activating the Prefrontal Cortex
By focusing on sensory input and naming objects, you’re using parts of your brain responsible for logic and reasoning. This helps to dial down the emotional overdrive of the amygdala.
3. Slowing Down Physiological Symptoms
As attention returns to the present, the nervous system begins to regulate. Your heart rate, breathing, and muscle tension can slowly begin to return to baseline.
4. Creating a Sense of Control
Anxiety often comes from feeling out of control. This exercise gives you clear, structured steps, offering a sense of safety and agency.
5. Stimulating Multiple Senses
Involving sight, touch, hearing, smell, and taste recruits multiple sensory pathways. This sensory overload in a safe context helps reset the brain’s threat response.
You’re not weak for feeling anxious, you’re human. Your brain is trying to protect you, even if it’s acting a little over the top right now.
Grounding doesn’t erase all fear, but it does remind you: you’re still here, and you’re safe in this moment. 🩷
06/05/2025
Self-compassion isn’t just a feel-good concept, it’s a well-researched practice with powerful mental health benefits. Studies by psychologist Dr. Kristin Neff and others have shown that people who practice self-compassion experience lower levels of anxiety, depression, and shame. Instead of fueling complacency, self-compassion actually increases motivation, emotional resilience, and the ability to cope with difficult emotions.
Why? Because when we meet ourselves with kindness instead of criticism, we activate the brain’s calming systems, reducing stress hormones like cortisol and increasing feel-good chemicals like oxytocin. Self-compassion creates the safety our nervous system needs to grow, heal, and make meaningful change.
It’s also deeply humanizing. It reminds us that imperfection is part of the shared human experience. We don’t have to earn the right to be gentle with ourselves. 🤍
Prompts:
What do I need to hear right now from someone who loves me? Can I offer this to myself?
Can I name my current strongest emotion without self-judgement?
What would I say to someone I love if they were feeling this way?
What do I feel in my body? What could this feeling be trying to tell me?
What is one kind, true thing I could say to myself?
Could it be possible to offer myself permission to be imperfect?
Is there something I’m blaming myself for that is not my fault?
What would it look like to be gentle with myself today?
Even though _______, I am worthy of love and care from myself and others.
What kind of support do I wish I had growing up? How might I offer myself that kind of support now?
How can I actively remind myself that suffering is part of being human, rather than a personal failure?
How am I growing as a person, even if it’s something small?
What is one thing other people love about me? Is there a step I could take toward loving about myself?
What part of myself am I learning to accept slowly and gently?
What strengths or qualities have helped me get through hard times?
06/01/2025
✨ Understanding & Interrupting the OCD Cycle ✨
Let’s talk about the cycle that keeps OCD going, and how you can begin to break free from it. 💭
🌀 Slide 1: The OCD Cycle
OCD often starts with an intrusive though - something distressing, bizarre, or morally upsetting. These thoughts can seem to come out of nowhere and often go against your values.
That thought sparks anxiety, which feels unbearable.
In response, your brain searches for relief through a compulsion—this might be a mental ritual, reassurance seeking, avoidance, or any behavior that feels “necessary” to neutralize the anxiety.
You feel temporary relief, but here’s the trap: the brain learns that the compulsion “worked,” and so the cycle repeats… and strengthens.
❤️🩹 Slide 2: Interrupting the OCD Cycle
Here’s the hopeful news: OCD is treatable, and the cycle can be interrupted.
When you recognize an intrusive thought for what it is (just a thought, not a truth or a threat), you take the first step toward healing.
From there, you can sit with the anxiety instead of immediately performing the compulsion. Yes, it’s uncomfortable, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴.
Each time you pause, delay, or resist a compulsion (even slightly), you are training your brain that the anxiety can rise and fall on its own without rituals. This weakens OCD’s grip over time.
If you’re not ready to fully resist a compulsion, try:
▪️ Reducing how many times you do it
▪️ Delaying it by a few minutes
▪️ Pairing it with grounding techniques like deep breathing or prayer
Healing happens in these small moments of courage. You don’t have to do it perfectly. You just have to keep practicing. You’re not failing, you’re learning.
🧠 With consistent work (and often with the help of ERP therapy), these steps rewire your brain toward freedom. You are not your thoughts, and you’re not alone in this.
05/31/2025
If you live with scrupulosity, a form of OCD that targets your faith, then you know how exhausting it can be. The thoughts feel holy, but they’re actually fueled by fear, not truth.
Scrupulosity says:
🧠 “If I don’t confess every tiny thought, God will reject me.”
🧠 “What if I blasphemed the Holy Spirit and can’t be forgiven?”
🧠 “That prayer didn’t feel sincere enough—better say it again.”
🧠 “A good Christian would never have that thought.”
Let’s be clear: That’s not the voice of God. That’s the voice of OCD.
OCD’s voice is anxious, demanding, repetitive, and never satisfied.
God’s voice is gentle, truthful, peace-giving, and consistent with His Word.
📖 OCD says: “God is constantly testing you, watching for your failures.”
🕊️ God says: “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” (Psalm 103:8)
📖 OCD says: “You must perform spiritual rituals perfectly or else.”
🕊️ God says: “Come to me, all who are weary… and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
📖 OCD says: “You are one mistake away from losing your salvation.”
🕊️ God says: “Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:38–39)
📖 OCD says: “You need to fix this feeling of uncertainty - right now.”
🕊️ God says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)
Scrupulosity creates a false version of God, one who is rigid, unmerciful, and obsessed with technicalities.
But the true God is full of grace. He sees your heart, not just your thought patterns. He knows your brain is loud and tender. And He’s not pacing the floor of heaven waiting for you to get it “just right.”
Healing from scrupulosity is not letting go of God, it’s letting go of the version of God that OCD created.
Through therapy (especially ERP) and through truth in Scripture, you can begin to trust again - not in your ability to feel certain, but in God’s unchanging character.
You don’t have to prove your sincerity to Him.
You are already fully known, and still fully loved.
05/30/2025
𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 & 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨: 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 & 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦-𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 🤍
2 Corinthians 10:5 + Cognitive Restructuring
“Take every thought captive…”
If only it were that easy, right?
When you live with OCD or trauma, your brain may flood you with thoughts that are intrusive, dark, blasphemous, or fearful. Many Christians confuse these with sin, but they are symptoms, not spiritual failures.
In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we practice cognitive restructuring, identifying distorted thoughts and gently challenging them.
Ask yourself:
• Is this thought true?
• Is it helpful?
• What might God say about this?
Taking a thought “captive” doesn’t mean wrestling it into silence. It means inviting God’s truth into the conversation.
Thought: “I had that scary thought. God must be disappointed in me.”
Reframed: “That was an intrusive thought. God sees my heart and invites me into grace, not condemnation.”
📖 Scripture gives us a foundation to filter our thoughts - not with shame, but with clarity.
You don’t have to believe every thought you think. Let’s learn how to test them with gentleness and truth.
05/28/2025
Is it possible for counselling and psychotherapy to be 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨?
I’ve wanted to talk about this for awhile now, but I’m going to be honest - it’s hard. There’s a lot of bad Christian therapy out there (and a lot of bad therapy in general). People have been burned over and over again by so-called professionals who tell them that praying harder, or believing more strongly, or that trusting God more will guarantee their healing.
Friend, I am here to tell you that I am so sorry if this has happened to you. Good theology says that God heals according to 𝘏𝘪𝘴 will, not ours. Can He? Of course. Does He have to? No. Will He always? No. And if He doesn’t, it’s not your failure as a believer.
As a registered psychotherapist and practicing Christian, I believe that the evidence-based psychotherapy tools we have are a gift. We have the opportunity to treat symptoms, unpack trauma, and provide a safe place to land. This is a gift from God that we’d be wrong to neglect. Research has shown over and over that psychotherapy works.
It doesn’t mean that we stop praying for healing or leaning on God, it means that we embody what it means to truly love and care for one another and embrace the gift of tools that are 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦.
By providing sound, evidence-based therapy, we steward God’s gifts well.
I’m so excited to revive this page and share more with you about faith and mental health, as well as practical strategies and tools for coping with challenges.
With hope for healing,
Laura 🤍
05/26/2022
What fills your cup? ☕
Everything we do - physically, emotionally, and mentally - takes energy. When we've poured out everything we have, we have nothing left to use.
This is why it's so important to fill ourselves up. What gives you energy? What really makes you feel rested?
☕ 💤 🏃♀️🌱✍️
//
05/26/2022
🤍
05/25/2022
Unhelpful coping strategies are a common topic of conversation in therapy. Did you know that some of the ways you protect yourself today likely originated early in life?
I like to think of it like this: If you had an unpredictable parent who yelled at you a lot as a child, you might have found that hiding from your parent when they got home was a good strategy. It was a good strategy in childhood because it kept you safe. What if you have an assertive boss in adulthood? When they raise their voice, do you feel unsafe or extremely inadequate? Do you desperately want to run, hide, or even quit your job? Your nervous system might have associated "raised voice" with "extremely unsafe," and it might be turning to the coping strategy it knows works.
Identifying our unhelpful coping strategies can be powerful. It allows us to create new ones that serve us better in the present. We can be thankful for the things that kept us safe in the past and discover what we need today.
//
05/24/2022
As a therapist, I have the immense privilege of being welcomed into people's inner worlds. Here's a piece of inside information: everyone is going through something, and everyone feels like they're the only one.
It's a strange paradox that most people have walls up to hide their suffering when the walls we're looking at are also hiding suffering.
The truth is that you are not alone, and you will never be alone.
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Laura Osorio Psychotherapy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Welcome! My name is Laura D'Amico. I care deeply about people, and I am committed to providing high quality therapeutic services. I'm so glad that you're considering all that therapy has to offer. I value and honour diversity, and would like you to know that whoever you are, wherever you've come from and whatever you're going through, you are welcome here.
I completed my undergraduate degree in psychology with a biology minor at Wilfrid Laurier University. During my undergrad, I had the opportunity to conduct research in the field of cognitive neuroscience. I am fascinated by human beings as a whole, and believe that our bodies, minds, and spirits are all important elements of who we are. Following my time at Wilfrid Laurier, I spent a year working with an organization in Southern Africa where I developed a passion for working with survivors of trauma. I pursued a master's degree at Saint Paul University in counselling & spirituality, where I have had the chance to work with a variety of clients over the past two years. My master's research involves the needs of youth experiencing homelessness. I will complete my M.A. pending the completion of my research in August, and I am currently continuing my education through trauma counselling certifications with the Arizona Trauma Institute. I am also currently pursuing a Biblical Studies master's degree, and am passionate about the intersection between faith and mental health. You do not have to identify as religious or spiritual for us to work together, but this is something I am happy to offer if it is important to you.
Some of my experience includes:
Working in international communities (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Working with individuals experiencing homelessness
Working with individuals recovering from trauma, including sexual abuse
Working with individuals with neurodiversity
Working with individuals experiencing mental illness, including depression, anxiety disorders (GAD, OCD), and personality disorders
Working with members of the LGBTQ+ community
Working with youth, adults, and older adults
Approaches and Focus
I'm passionate about supporting individuals in finding their voices. My approach to therapy is trauma-informed and integrative, and I tailor my methodology to each individual client. This may include elements of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical-Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Logotherapy (meaning-making), and Psychodynamic theory.
My areas of focus include trauma, anxiety disorders (including obsessive-compulsive disorder), depression, and spirituality.
I work with youth, adults, and older adults.
License
I am a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.
Fees
The cost per 50-minute session is $150. This cost may be covered (or partially covered) by your insurance plan. Because I am practicing under the supervision of Michelle Sorensen, Clinical Psychologist, sessions are billed as "Psychology." Clients can pay by e-transfer, cash, or cheque.
Location
I work out of the Ottawa South Resiliency Clinic in Ottawa, Ontario. We are located at 2200 Prince of Wales Dr., unit 100. I also offer video sessions for residents of Ontario.
To request an appointment, please visit lauradamico.ca/appointments.
